| Retail Bags Report - List of Retail Bag Policies - Australia |
Highlights
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Australia |
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• (Countrywide) In October 2002, the Ministers of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council in Australia agreed to pursue a number of actions relating to the reducing the adverse impacts of plastic bags on the Australian environment. A number of work groups were put together to address different aspects of the issue. On July 1, 2005, after reviewing the research and report on the issue, the Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to a phase out of lightweight plastic shopping bags by the end of 2008. A voluntary retailer Code of Practice was created and is the primary mechanism developed to achieve the phase out. All shoppers and retailers were expected to have alternatives in place by December 31st 2008. In April 2008, after review of an analysis that showed that the economic costs of a regulatory phase out would significantly outweigh the environmental benefits, the Council has resolved not to endorse uniform regulatory action at this time. [updated 12-01-09]
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New South Wales |
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Huskisson |
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A seaside location and whale watching tourism helped prompt the town of Huskisson to ban plastic bags in November 2003. |
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Kangaroo Valley |
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In November 2003, all retailers in the town committed to banning plastic bags. Reusable cloth bags are available for purchase at all shops. |
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Mogo |
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In September 2003, local retailers and the Mogo Progress Association worked together to go plastic bag free. |
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Northern Territory |
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• On February 24, 2011 the Northern Territory Parliament passed into law the Environmental Protection Bill of 2010 which prohibits stores from giving or selling single-use, non-biodegradable plastic bags. The bill also contains a container deposit system for bottles, cans and cartons.
[added 05-23-11] |
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South Australia |
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• In 2008 South Australian government saw a proposal to ban polyethylene plastic bags that are 35 microns or less thick. Compostable and biodegradable bags would be exempted from the ban. The ban was passed in November and went into effect May
4th, 2009. [updated 07-24-09] |
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Tasmania |
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Coles Bay |
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Coles Bay, Tasmania is a tourist town, famous for the close proximity to whale migration. The town opted to go plastic bag free in April 2003. This move effectively banned plastic takeaway bags. Retailers offer reusable paper bags for a fee and also sell fabric bags. |
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Victoria |
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• In 2006, the state of Victoria opted to charge consumers for each plastic bag used at a store. The fee went into place as a trial in 2008 in a few locations. |
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Loddon Shire |
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In December 2005, Loddon Shire became plastic bag free. Effectively, a ban on take away plastic bags, the Loddon Shire Council purchased reusable shopping bags and distributed these bags free to retailers to kick start the program.
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Information about retail bag regulation activities is changing constantly. We welcome your input. If you have additional sources, or updates to
current information on this website, please email
Jill.R.Scarborough@dep.state.fl.us. |
Last updated:
June 02, 2011
Division of Waste Management #850-245-8705 MS #4500
2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400
Question or Comments? Email:
Jill.R.Scarborough@dep.state.fl.us.
